Smokeless-powder composition.



UNITED S ATES Patented December so, 1905.

ATENT FFIaCQE, 1

HUDSfoNfMAxIM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SMOK-ELESS-POWDER' COMPOSITION.

SPECIFICATION formingart of Letters Patent No. 748,200, dated December29,' 19o3. Application filed April19;1902. Serial No. 103:127. (Nespecimens.)

- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUDSON MAXIM, of 891 Sterling Place, Brooklyn,county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Smokeless- Powder Compositions, which inventionis' fu lly set forth in thefollowing specification.

The present invention relates toimprovements in explosive compounds,especially smokeless powder, and'in processes of manu-f facture, itsmain object being to prevent warping, twisting, and bending ofsmokeless:

powder grains, particularly those consisting,

mainly, of pyro-nitro-cellulose or pyroxyliu soluble in ether-alcohol,especially when made in the form of long rods or bars, and it is afurther object ofthe invention-to facilitate and increase the rapidityof drying.

When smokeless powder is made of pure faces of the material into ahorn-like substance, which greatly impedes the passage 'through it ofthe vapors of the solvents from I have discovthe undried portionswithin.

ered that by the admixture of a certain percentage of tlinitro-celluloseto the compound in the manner hereinafter explained not only is thematerial capable of being dried with much greater facility and rapidity,but at the same time it is largely prevented from warping, twisting, andbending while in the process of drying. I

In carrying out my invention 1 proceed in the following manner:About-ninety parts, by weight, of pyro-nitro-cellulose is worked in amixer in the usual manner, with sufficient ether and alcohol mixture torender the same gelatinous and capable ofbeing molded into grains in theusual way. In another mixer ten parts, by weight, of tri-nitro-celluloseis incorporated with a sufficient quantity of acetone or acetic ether orother suitable solvent, and when the same is thoroughly gelatinated andwhen the pyro-nitro-cellulose mixture in the other mixer is alsothoroughly gelatinated the trinitro cellulose mixture is added-theretoand thoroughly and rapidly incorporated therewith. After the twomaterials have been thoroughly incorporated the material is molded intograins in the usual manner.

In practicing my invention I may and sometimes do .employ suflicientacetone or other suitable solvent for gela-tinating or dissolving thetri-nitro-cellulose as will prevent the precipitation from solution ofthe tri-uitro-cellulose, when the same-is admixed and incorporated withthe pyro-nitro-cellulose and other and alcohol mixture, or I may andsometimes do employ such a small quantity of acetone or similar solventas to allow such precipitation to take place and cause the precipitationfrom solution of the tri-nitro-cellulose in a finely-divided condition.In the one instance the tri-nit'ro-cellulose is combined with thepyro-nitro-cellulse while both are in solution-that is to sy, theirsolutions are incorporated--while in the other case thetri-nitrocellulose is precipitated from the solution in the act ofincorporation.

While I have explained that I employ about ninety parts, by weight, ofpyro-nitrocellulose to ten parts, by weight, of tri-nitrocellulose, I donot confine myself strictly to these proportions; but I may vary thoseproportions as I desire and within wide limits.

While I may, as already described, dissolve the tri-nitro-cellulose orgelatinate the same before mixing with the pyro-nitro-cellulose paste orsolution, I may instead of dissolving or gelatinating thetri-nitro-cellulose pulverize or grind the same to an impalpable powderor dust. This may be done without danger by grinding it in water or in awet state, the tri-nitro-cellulose then being dried and moistened withalcohol or ether or a mixture of them before adding to and incorporatingwith the pyro-nitro-cellulose paste.

I have found that by the admixture of from ten to fifteen per cent, byweight, of finelypowdered tri nitro cellulose to pyro-nitrocellulose inthe above manner and thoroughly incorporating therewith the density andhornlike and impervious character of the prodnot is considerablymodified and that powder grains made of the material may be dried' withgreater facility and rapidity and with much less tendency to warp andlose their 1 nitro-cellnlose and thoroughly incorporating 3o shape.Fnrthermore,smokeless powder made in this manner being less hard andhorn-like is burned through a greater thickness of material under agiven pressure before the projectile leaves the gun, which enables theburning thicknesses between the perforations,

to be made greater, resulting in greater acceleration of combustion.

By the term tri-nitro-cellulose is meant cellulose of the highest degreeof nitration or gun-cotton, and by the term pyro-nitro-cellulose ismeant the soluble nitro-cellulose composition usually employed in themanufacture of smokeless powder.

What is claimed is- 1. The herein-described process of makingsmokeless-powder composition, which consists in gelatinatingpyro-nitro-cellulose or soluble pyroxylin in a solvent which is not asolvent of tri-nitro-cellulose, and separately gelatinatingor dissolvingtri-nitro-cellulose in a suitable solvent, and then. uniting andthoroughly incorporating the two mixtures.

2. I he process of making smoke1ess-powder composition, which consistsin dissolving pyro-nitro-cellulose or soluble pyroxylin in a solventwhich is not a solvent of tri-nitrocellulose, adding thereto a solutionof trithe same therewith.

3. The herein-described process of making a smokeless-powdercomposition, which con- 4 sists in gelatinating pyro-ntiro-cellulose orsoluble pyroxylin in a solvent'which is not a solvent of tri-nitrOceIluIose, adding thereto a solution of tri-nitro-cellulose,andprecipitating the tri-nitro-cellulose from solution in the act ofincorporating the two mixtures.

4. The herein-described process of making a smokeless-powdercomposition, which consists in uniting and incorporating independ-' entsolutions of pyro-nitro-cellulose and trinitro-cellulose, in theproportions of twentyfive per cenb or less of the tri-nitro-cellulose,to seventy-five per cent. or more of thepyronitro-cellulose.

5. The herein-described smokeless-powder composition or paste, whichconsistsof pyronitro-cellulose or soluble pyroxylin in solu tion, and aprecipitate of tri-nitro-cellulose.

In testimony whereof I, HUDSON MAXIM, have signed this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUDSON MAXIM.

Witnesses:

REEVE LEWIS, WM. B. KERKAM.

